Are these belts good? Im replacing the oem one on my F150 with 169k miles. I ordered one from Autozone, should be in tomorrow. I ordered the OE Technology series one, I would have liked to buy the Elite gatorback type, but I read they are discontinuing them. I heard Continental makes good products but I just wanted to ask on here. I was surprised at the price it was only 21 bucks as opposed to a Gates fleetrunner belt at $36 +
Continental serpentine belt
- Thread starter mobilnissan1991
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I've always ran Gates myself but i've never heard bad things about Continental belts.
I miss the Gatorback/Elite too, but there's nothing wrong with the Continental OE Technology series 
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All I've been using lately other than actual OE belts. Never really cared for the Gatorbacks as they are pretty thin.
Had a Gatorback on my Ranger for a couple years. It was cheaper than the Gates and it looked cool. That was my only reason for buying it. It has performed as a belt should, no noise, hasn’t broken. I don’t know what more I could ask of it.
I run ordinary Bando belts on most cars here just because they are inexpensive but still hold up over the two years I use them ( as I change them frequently).
On the trucks I have (and my mom’s Silverado), I spring a little more for the green Fleetrunner belts. Just because they are billed as a little heavier duty than regular belts, and they have that green layer that shows wear.
On the trucks I have (and my mom’s Silverado), I spring a little more for the green Fleetrunner belts. Just because they are billed as a little heavier duty than regular belts, and they have that green layer that shows wear.
Yeah, Continental bought Goodyear's belt business so it's now all Continental. Now belts are so good, they all seem to last a long time no matter which maker you buy it from.
I have had a few squeal on me with the continental, the fit is good. I use OE mostly but Bando, Mitsuboshi and Dayco "w" belts seem to be the quietest and fit the best outside of OE. Gates is hit and miss. The gatorbacks were noisy with a whining noise and as clinebarger said very thin.
I've had good experience with Continental products. Use the serpentine with confidence.
I have found Gates belts to be very "hard" compared to OE or Bando. The rubber is harder. Not sure if this is a pro or a con, just an observation.
Continental is OE on all 4 Benzes I have owned but they come with Benz logo.
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2024
Never knew Continental made belts. I use Gates. The only time I haven’t used Gates is for the V-Belt on my truck and my Beetle because I couldn’t find a Gates one for it so I used Dayco.
They bought that business several years ago.
Germany's Continental to buy U.S. firm Veyance for $1.9 billion
German tire and car parts maker Continental <CONG.DE> has agreed to buy U.S. private equity investor Carlyle Group's <CG.O> Veyance Technologies, which once belonged to its rival Goodyear <GT.O>, for 1.4 billion euros ($1.9 billion).
www.reuters.com
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2024
Very cool. Didn’t know that.They bought that business several years ago.
Germany's Continental to buy U.S. firm Veyance for $1.9 billion
German tire and car parts maker Continental <CONG.DE> has agreed to buy U.S. private equity investor Carlyle Group's <CG.O> Veyance Technologies, which once belonged to its rival Goodyear <GT.O>, for 1.4 billion euros ($1.9 billion).
Conti belts are good. I’m not sure if Conti fully integrated the former Goodyear/Veynance belt/hose business into their existing ContiTech division which has been a long time supplier to the German OEMs.
been running one for 30T km. no problem
On a car I had, the Gatorback just barely missed OEM sizing by a hair. It installed with a little bit of a fight. Not sure it was a coincidence or age of the car, I had to replace the belt tensioner and idler pulley - both developed a growling sound. I installed the “cheap” Gates belt(MasterPro) and it worked fine before the car was junked.
I’ve been using Bando or Gates for belts recently.
